Ultrasound system and signal processing unit configured for Time Gain and Lateral Gain Compensation

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an ultrasound system, which comprises: a signal acquiring unit to transmit an ultrasound signal to an object and acquire an echo signal reflected from the object; a signal processing unit to control TGC (Time Gain Compensation) and LGC (Lateral Gain Compensation) of the echo signal; a TGC/LGC setup unit adapted to set TGC and LGC values based on TGC and LGC curves inputted by a user; and an image producing unit adapted to produce an ultrasound image of the object based on the echo signal. The signal processing unit is further adapted to control the TGC and the LGC of the echo signal based on the TGC and LGC values set by the TGC/LGC setup unit.

The present application is a Continuation Patent Application of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/945,313, filed on Apr. 4, 2018, which isa Continuation Patent Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/756,274, filed on Jan. 31, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,321,891, issuedon Jun. 18, 2019, which is a Continuation Patent Application of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/184,094, filed on Jul. 15, 2011, now U.S.Pat. No. 8,403,855, issued on Mar. 26, 2013, which is a ContinuationPatent Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/857,860, filedon Sep. 19, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,016,759, issued on Sep. 13, 2011,which claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0123752filed on Dec. 7, 2006, the entire subject matter of which isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The present invention generally relates to an ultrasound system, andmore particularly to an ultrasound system adapted to precisely andeasily perform TGC (Time Gain Compensation) and LGC (Lateral GainCompensation).

2. Background

An ultrasound system has become an important and popular diagnostic toolsince it has a wide range of applications. Specifically, due to itsnon-invasive and non destructive nature, the ultrasound system has beenextensively used in the medical profession. Modern high-performanceultrasound systems and techniques are commonly used to produce two orthree-dimensional diagnostic images of internal features of an object.

In order to transmit and receive ultrasound signals, the ultrasoundsystem is generally provided with a probe including a widebandtransducer. When the transducer is electrically stimulated, it producesultrasound signals and transmits them into a human body. The ultrasoundsignals transmitted into the human body are reflected from bordersbetween human tissues and then returned to the transducer. The returnedultrasound echo signals are converted into electric signals. Thereafter,ultrasound image data for imaging the tissues is produced by amplifyingand signal-processing the echo signals.

Typically, the ultrasound system is provided with a control panelincluding a plurality of input units in order to perform a controlfunction of acquiring the ultrasound image, a menu control function, ameasurement and annotation function, etc. The control panel is comprisedof a touch panel, an image control unit, a measurement control unit,etc. The touch panel displays menus for optimizing an ultrasound imagedisplayed on a display unit. The menus on the touch panel can be touchedand selected by a user. The image control unit controls the ultrasoundimage, whereas the measurement control unit measures a distance to theobject, a circumference of the object, etc. As illustrated in FIG. 1 ,the image control unit includes a plurality of TGC control keys 11 and aplurality of LGC control keys 12. The TGC control keys 11 are used tocontrol a gain of each echo signal based on depth of the position fromwhich the echo signal is reflected. Further, since the echo signal isattenuated at the outer right and left sides, the LGC control keys 12are used to control a gain of the attenuated echo signal.

In the conventional system, the TGC control keys 11 and the LGC controlkeys 12 are arranged on different areas of the control panel. Theproblem associated with such an arrangement is that the size of thecontrol panel must be inevitably increased. Further, a user of thesystem suffers a great inconvenience when operating the TGC control keys11 and the LGC control keys 12. Another problem of the conventionalsystem is that since the TGC control keys 11 and the LGC control keys 12are comprised of slide-type variable resistors, it is very difficult foran unskilled user to finely control TGC and LGC with the TGC controlkeys 11 and the LGC control keys 12.

In order to resolve the above problems, the present invention isdirected to providing an ultrasound system adapted to display a setupscreen used to input TGC and LGC curves on a touch panel and perform TGCand LGC based on the inputted TGC and LGC curves.

The present invention provides an ultrasound system, which comprises: asignal acquiring unit adapted to transmit an ultrasound signal to anobject and acquire an echo signal reflected from the object; a signalprocessing unit adapted to perform TGC (Time Gain Compensation) and LGC(Lateral Gain Compensation) upon the echo signal at a coarsecompensation mode based on predetermined TGC and LGC values; an imageproducing unit adapted to produce an ultrasound image of the objectbased on the TGC and LGC compensated echo signal; an input unit adaptedto allow a user to provide TGC and LGC curves; and a TGC/LGC setupprocessor adapted to set TGC and LGC values based on the TGC and LGCcurves provided by the user. The signal processing unit is furtheradapted to perform the TGC and LGC upon the echo signal at a finecompensation mode based on the TGC and LGC values set by the TGC/LGCsetup processor.

In addition, the present invention provides an ultrasound system, whichcomprises: a processor adapted to configure a setup screen for display;and a touch panel adapted to display the setup screen so as to allow auser to input TG and LGC curves. The processor is further adapted tocalculate the TGC and LGC values based on the inputted TGC and the LGCcurves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Arrangements and embodiments may be described in detail with referenceto the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to likeelements and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating conventional TGC and LGCcontrol keys;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a structure of an ultrasound systemaccording to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3 to 7 illustrate a setup screen according to one embodiment ofthe present; and

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary distinction between TGC and LGC curvesaccording to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

A detailed description may be provided with reference to theaccompanying drawings. One of ordinary skill in the art may realize thatthe following description is illustrative only and is not in any waylimiting. Other embodiments of the present invention may readily suggestthemselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of thisdisclosure.

Certain embodiments of the present invention will be explained belowwith reference to FIGS. 2 to 8 .

As illustrated in FIG. 2 , an ultrasound system 100 comprises: a probe110; a beam former 120; a signal processing unit 130; a processor 140; adisplay unit 150; and a TGC/LGC setup unit 160. The probe 110 includes aplurality of transducers 112. Each of the transducers 112 may beconfigured to transmit an ultrasound signal to an object and receive theultrasound signal reflected from the object. The beam former 120 may beconfigured to focus the transmitted ultrasound signals from thetransducers 112 on the object and collect the reflected ultrasoundsignals from the object to the transducers 112 together withcorresponding time delay.

The signal processing unit 130 may be configured to amplify the signalscollected by the beam former 120 and control gains of the amplified echosignals. Specifically, the signal processing unit 130 may be configuredto perform TGC (Time Gain Compensation) and LGC (Lateral GainCompensation) upon the echo signals based on predetermined TGC and LGCvalues at a coarse compensation mode (e.g., in an initial operationstage). The signal processing unit 130 may be further configured toperform TGC and LGC upon the echo signals based on TGC and LGC valuescalculated in a TGC/LGC setup unit 160 using a curve inputted by a userat a fine compensation mode (e.g., during operations).

The processor 140 may be configured to receive the echo signals from thesignal processing unit 130 and produce an ultrasound image signal basedon the echo signals. The display unit 150 may be adapted to receive theultrasound image signal from the processor and display an ultrasoundimage based on the signal.

The TGC/LGC setup unit 160 may include a touch panel 161 and a TGC/LGCsetup processor 162.

The touch panel 161 may be configured to display a setup screen anddetect TGC/LGC curves inputted by the user on the touch panel 161 toproduce a detecting signal. The touch panel 161 detects the user's inputaccording to either the pressure sensing method or the electromagneticinduction method. The touch panel 161 may be a touch panel included in acontrol panel (not shown) of the ultrasound system 100. Alternatively,it may be separate and apart from the ultrasound system 100.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the touch panel 161 may beconfigured to display a setup screen 210 (shown in FIG. 3 ) including anultrasound image 310 and first and second reference lines 410, 420. Theultrasound image 310 is based on the echo signal, the TGC and LGC ofwhich are controlled based on the predetermined TGC and LGC values. Thefirst and second reference lines 410, 420 may be used to detect a TGCcurve 510 and a LGC curve 520 inputted by the user (i.e., to determinewhether a curve inputted by the user is a TGC curve 510 or a LGC curve520). After inputting a curve, the user can modify a portion of thecurve.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the touch panel 161 maybe configured to display a setup screen 220 (shown in FIG. 4 ) includingfirst and second ultrasound images 311, 312 and first and secondreference lines 410, 420. The first and second ultrasound images 311,312 are based on the echo signal, the TGC and LGC of which arecontrolled based on the predetermined TGC and LGC values. The first andsecond reference lines 410, 420 may be used to detect whether a curveinputted by the user is a TGC curve 510 or a LGC curve 520. The firstultrasound image 311 may be identical to the second initial ultrasoundimage 312.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the touch panel 161may be configured to display a first setup screen 231 (shown in FIG. 5 )including an ultrasound image 310 and a first reference line 410. Theultrasound image 310 is based on the echo signal, the TGC and LGC ofwhich are controlled based on the predetermined TGC and LGC values. Thefirst reference line 410 may be used to detect a TGC curve 510 inputtedby the user. The touch panel may then display a second setup screen 232(shown in FIG. 6 ) including the ultrasound image 310 and a secondreference line 420. The second reference lines 420 may be used to detecta LGC curve 520 inputted by the user. Alternatively, the touch panel 161may be configured to display the second setup screen 232 before thefirst setup screen 231.

In still yet another embodiment of the present invention, the touchpanel 161 may be configured to display a setup screen 240 (shown in FIG.7 ) including a virtual ultrasound image 330 and first and secondreference lines 410, 420.

The TGC/LGC setup processor 162 may be configured to detect TGC and LGCcurves 510, 520 inputted by the user on the touch panel 161. The TGC/LGCsetup processor 162 may then calculate new TGC and LGC values inconsideration of the detected TGC and LGC curves and transmit the valuesto the signal processing unit 130.

In one embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 8 ,the TGC/LGC setup processor 162 may be configured to establish a firstgroup of lines 610 and a second group of lines 620. The first group oflines 610 is perpendicular to a first reference line 410 and the linesin said group are equally spaced apart from each other. The second groupof lines 620 is perpendicular to a second reference line 420 and thelines in this group are equally spaced apart from each other. If it isdetermined that a curve inputted by the user (such as the curve 510)intersects the first group of lines more often than the second group oflines, then the TGC/LGC setup processor 162 recognizes that the curve isa TGC curve. Alternatively, if it is determined that a curve inputted bythe user (such as the curve 520) intersects the second group of linesmore often than the first group of lines, then the TGC/LGC setupprocessor 162 recognizes that the curve is a LGC curve. The TGC/LGCsetup processor 162 then calculates the new TGC value corresponding tothe TGC curve 510 based on the first reference line 410. It alsocalculates the LGC value corresponding to the LGC curve 520 based on thesecond reference line 420. The TGC value and the LGC value aretransmitted to the signal processing unit 130.

The present invention allows the user to accurately control the TGC andLGC by using the TGC and LGC curves inputted into the touch panel,thereby improving operational accuracy and time. Further, the presentinvention reduces the size of the control panel to thereby improve thespatial efficiency.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to anumber of preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood thatnumerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by thoseskilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of theprinciples of this disclosure. More particularly, numerous variationsand modifications are possible in the component parts and/orarrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope ofthe disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition tovariations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements,alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. An ultrasound system, comprising: a probeconfigured for transmitting an ultrasound signal to an object andreceiving echo signals reflected from the object; a touch panel; and aprocessor configured to receive, via the touch panel, a user's singlecurve touch input, the user's single curve touch input within a regionwhere multiple vertical lines are visually displayed to intersectsuccessively with two or more of multiple vertical lines, each of themultiple vertical lines corresponding to different lateral positions ofan ultrasound image, and to adjust lateral gain compensation (LGC)values based on the successive intersection of the curve received byuser's single curve touch input with the two or more of the multiplevertical lines, wherein the processor is configured to decide LGC valuesof two or more lateral positions of the ultrasound image correspondingto the two or more vertical lines of the multiple vertical lines, basedon the successive intersection of the curve received by the user'ssingle curve touch input with the two or more vertical lines.
 2. Theultrasound system of claim 1, wherein the touch panel is furtherconfigured to display the multiple vertical lines.
 3. The ultrasoundsystem of claim 2, wherein the displayed multiple vertical lines areparallel with one another.
 4. The ultrasound system of claim 1, whereinthe ultrasound system further comprising a display configured to displaythe ultrasound image of the object, wherein the multiple vertical linescorrespond to different lateral positions of the ultrasound imagedisplayed on the display.
 5. The ultrasound system of claim 1, whereinthe touch panel is further configured to display the ultrasound image ina first area of the touch panel and the multiple vertical lines in asecond area of the touch panel, the second area being different from thefirst area, wherein the multiple vertical lines displayed in the secondarea of the touch panel correspond to different lateral positions of theultrasound image displayed in the first area of the touch panel.
 6. Theultrasound system of claim 1, wherein the touch panel is furtherconfigured to display the intersection of the user's single curve touchinput with the multiple vertical lines.
 7. The ultrasound system ofclaim 1, wherein the touch panel is further configured to display avirtual image and to receive the user's single curve touch input overthe displayed virtual image.
 8. The ultrasound system of claim 7,wherein the virtual image comprises the multiple vertical lines.
 9. Theultrasound system of claim 8, wherein two or more intersections of theuser's single curve touch input with the multiple vertical lines aredisplayed on the virtual image.
 10. The ultrasound system of claim 1,wherein the processor is further configured to control a gain of theecho signals from corresponding lateral positions based on theintersection of the user's single curve touch input with the multiplevertical lines corresponding to the different lateral positions.
 11. Anultrasound system, comprising: a probe configured for transmitting anultrasound signal to an object and receiving echo signals reflected fromthe object; a touch panel configured for receiving a single lateral gaincompensation (LGC) curve touch input, the single LGC curve touch inputwithin a region where multiple vertical lines are visually displayed tointersect successively with two or more of the multiple vertical lines,each of the multiple vertical lines corresponding to different lateralpositions on the touch panel; and a processor configured for adjustingLGC setting for an ultrasound image of the object based on thesuccessive intersection of the single LGC curve touch input with two ormore of the multiple vertical lines.
 12. The ultrasound system of claim11, wherein the touch panel is further configured to display themultiple vertical lines.
 13. The ultrasound system of claim 12, whereinthe multiple vertical lines are vertically displayed and parallel withone another.
 14. The ultrasound system of claim 11, wherein the multiplevertical lines correspond to different lateral positions of theultrasound image of the object.
 15. The ultrasound system of claim 11,wherein the ultrasound system further comprising a display configured todisplay the ultrasound image of the object, wherein the multiplevertical lines correspond to different lateral positions of theultrasound image displayed on the display.
 16. The ultrasound system ofclaim 11, wherein the touch panel is further configured to display theultrasound image in a first area of the touch panel and to display themultiple vertical lines in a second area of the touch panel, the secondarea being different from the first area, wherein the multiple verticallines displayed in the second area of the touch panel correspond todifferent lateral positions of the ultrasound image displayed in thefirst area of the touch panel.
 17. The ultrasound system of claim 11,wherein the touch panel is further configured to display the successiveintersection of the single LGC curve touch input with the multiplevertical lines.
 18. The ultrasound system of claim 11, wherein the touchpanel is further configured to display a virtual image and to receivethe single LGC curve touch input over the displayed virtual image. 19.The ultrasound system of claim 18, wherein the virtual image comprisesthe multiple vertical lines.
 20. The ultrasound system of claim 19,wherein two or more intersections of the single LGC curve touch inputwith the multiple vertical lines are displayed on the virtual image.